“What if you did? Hypothetically speaking. Would you judge them for killing them?”
He rubs the back of his head. “It depends on the reasoning, I suppose. Did he drive her to do it?”
“What if the girlfriend thought they could be together after the parents were gone?”
He eyes me up and down, and I fake a smile.
“I’ll kill anyone who gets in the way of our relationship—I mean, harm you. But I’m in no position to judge because I’ve killed countless people. What’s with these hypothetical questions?”
I fiddle with the end of my coat, and my skin burns like a furnace.
“I watched a true crime documentary about a guy who killed his girlfriend’s parents so she could be free from their controlling behavior,” I lie.
“I don’t give a fuck about what other people do. But if you killed someone, then I’ll help get rid of the body, and I’ll cover your tracks.”
“What if I killed someone on purpose—just to kill?”
“Then I would still help you. A few dead bodies aren’t going to keep me away from you. I’m too obsessed with you.” His tone is calm.
Tears trickle down my cheeks, and numbness spreads through my chest. I don’t know what to say. I should tell him what really happened—but I refrain. For a second, I don’t feel judged, and I feel like I can breathe.
“Are you sure you don’t have anything to say to me?” Irvin asks.
I fake a smile. “No, I don’t.”
“You know you can tell me anything, right?” He kisses my forehead.
“I know, Irvin.”
He cups my face, strokes my cheeks, then presses his soft lips to mine. I haven’t felt safe in a man’s arms in a long time.
Lilac
Winter wants me to meet her at the gazebo and said it was urgent. I sip my cup of cocoa, tapping my ankle boots on the wooden floor.
The wind is harsh, and the sky is overcast, hazy. The campus is bare, empty. The trees’ bare limbs sway. Chatter in the distance.
What is it she wanted to tell me? Is it something bad? Did someone hurt her? She told me it couldn’t be discussed over the phone.
I hold my breath as she strides to the gazebo, and I exhale loudly as she hugs me tight, then she holds my hand.
“Did something happen with Keanu?” I blurt out.
She shakes her head, bites her lip, and avoids eye contact.
“You remember when you told me that Irvin is tricking the board members? I did some digging by hounding answers out of Keanu.”
I’ve never seen her so upset before.
I rub the side of my temple. “Please. Spit it out. You’re making me nervous.”
“Irvin tricked you into the marriage.”
No. That can’t be right. I can’t believe what she’s saying. Winter wouldn’t lie to me or make this up, but why would Keanu lie about Irvin? I get that he’s more friendly with Snow than Irvin, but as far as I know, they don’t have any beef.
My gaze is unfocused as I furrow my brow, and then my stomach feels heavy, as if it has lead in it.
“That’s a huge accusation, Winter.”
